Anderson Peynetsa

Husband and wife, Anderson and Avelia Peynetsa, have been making beautiful Zuni pottery since the 1980s. They live at Zuni Pueblo, immersed in the Zuni culture and paint with natural slips and paints made with wildcrafted plants. Anderson was inspired by a pottery teacher he had in 7th and 8th grade, an Acoma lady married to a Zuni. Anderson recalls his first time selling a piece of pottery at an art show for high school students that happened twice a year. “Wow!” he said — validation. The passion for his art lit up. As a young man he had regular jobs, but he always strived to perfect his art. He created in a number of forms — drawing, painting, music — yet, pottery kept calling him back. Anderson is credited with developing the walking deer pattern seen on many of his pots.